The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-05-04
"What't that'" inquired Nine. Lari-

"Trip through normandy. wen, my
little ones, what do you say to that?
A whole month of fresh air! You'll |
come back as fresh as roses
Nine. Lariviere was astoundel. She
wanted to protest, but did not care to
quarrel with Father Berard, who was
of an obstinate turn of mind and would |
always have the last word But when
she heard the hardware dealer speak of |
taking the pair off at once to the sta
ton her amazement exceeded all
bounds. Father Berard wouldn' loosen
his grip on them till he saw them both
off in the train.
'All right" she muttered with in
ward rage, "take my daughter away
from me if you like. So much the bet
ter. They won't be kissing each other
in the shop at least, and 1 can look aft
Ell the honor of the house,
The young married couple soon
reached the Saint-Lazare station, ac-
companied by Lucien's father, who
had barely given them time to throw
some linen and clothing into a trunk.
He bestowed sonorous kisses on their
cheeks. advised them to see every
thing, and to tell him all about it
when they got back. 'Twould amuse
him, he said.
Lucien and Hortense hurried along
the platform in search of an empty car.
They had the good luck to find one,
jumped into it, and were just prepar-
ing for a nice little talk when, to their
annoyance, specialized gentleman
got into the same compartment. AS
soon as he had seated himself the
stranger glanced at them with a stern
expression on his countenance. The
train started. Hortense, who was
heavy at heart, turned her head and
affected to scan the landscape; but tears
came into her eyes SO that she could
not so much as see the trees outside.
Lucien tried all he could to find a
means of gettisg rid of the old gentle
man, but the expedients he hit upon
We're of too high-handed character.
One moment he had hopes that their
fellow-traveler might get down at
Meulan or Vernon, but he soon discov-
cred his mistake. The old gentleman
was bound all the way to Havre. Ex-
asperated, Lucien made up his mind to
ignore the presence Of the interloper.
After all, they were married, and
might openly avow their fontlness. He
took his wife's hand in his. But the
old gentleman's brow lowere like that
of Moor; it was evident that he dis
approved all outward marks of affec-
ton; so Hortense, her face like GRIM
son, quickly Withdrew her hand.
The rest Of the journey was accom-
plished in silence and constraint. Hap
PLY they had now reached Rouen.
/ should here mention that Lucein,
on leaving Paris, had bought guide
book. The young couple alighted at
an hotel which was highly recommend
ed in the book, and at once fell an easy
prey to the walters. At the table
Ghote they scarcely dared exchange a
word on account of the crowd of peo-
pie staring at them.
'Let's 60 and see the town." said
Lucein, on rising the next morning,
"and then start off quickly for Havre. ?"
They were on their feet all day, Wis
tied the cathedral, where they were
shown the Butter Tower, built with the
proceeds of taxes imposed by the
clergy on the butter of the country;
they went to the old palace of the
Dukes of Normandy, entered the an
cient churches now used as corn-lofts,
saw the Joan of Arc Square, the Mu-
scum, and even the Monumental Gem
etery.
To cursory observers they seemed
ardent in the performance of duty;
nor did they fail to look at every his
toric house in the town. The truth is,
that Hortense was especially bored to
death, and so tired that the following
day she went to sleep on the train.
Then they left Havre, and stayed for
a few days at each of the important
places set down in their guide book.
They visited Honfeur, Pont 'Eveque,
Caen, Bayeux and Cherbourg; their
heads. in fact, got crammed with such
a lot of streets, monuments and
churches that they soon jumbled the
whole together, and grew heartily sick
and tired of sights and objects alto
gether devoid of interest for them.
They no longer looked at any thing.
but kept on the even tenor of their way
as though it was a task they did not
know how to escape. They seemed to
think that, since they had set out on a
circular trip, they must somehow find
their way back home. One evening at
Cherbourg, Lucien let fall an ominous
expression of his views:
II think I like your mothers shop
better"
The next day they started for Gran
vile.
Lucien remained absorbed, and at
times cast wild and fitful glance at
the country, where fields on each side
of the car expanded before them like a
| fan.
Suddenly, as the train came to a
small station, the name of which did
not reach their ear. but where lovely
nook of verdure was visible among the
trees, Lucien cried out:
| Get down. nv dear: oct down.